Sexual dimorphism in body composition, weight status and growth in prepubertal school children from rural areas of eastern Austria

Sexual dimorphism in stature, weight status and body composition were analy zed in. a sample of 398 prepubertal children (213 girls, 185 boys) ageing b etween 7 and 10. Furthermore the prevalence of overweight was tested. Body composition parameters were determined using TBP 105 Body composition analy zer according to BIA-method. Highly significant sex differences in body com position were observed (p < 0.001). In contrast, stature, weight and BMI sh owed no significant differences between the two sexes. Nevertheless, a sign ificant higher portion (p < 0.05) of girls (29%) corresponded to the defini tion overweight according to ASNS (Austrian Survey of Nutritional Status), while only 20% of the boys felt into the category overweight. The results o f the present study showed not only significant sex differences in body com position, especially in fat mass, long before puberty onset, but also a sig nificantly higher prevalence of overweight among prepubertal girls in compa rison to prepubertal boys.